Free community health fair tomorrow at medical school in Kaka'ako

The medical students of the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa's John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) are sponsoring the 8th annual JABSOM Community Health Fair on January 4, 2013, from noon to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the medical school, located at 651 Ilalo Street in Kaka`ako. This year's theme is “Kūlia I Ka Nu‘u – Strive for the Summit!”

The heath fairs have drawn hundreds of members of the public to JABSOM every year since they were inspired by the vision of two JABSOM medical students back in 2004. Today, the MD inter-class council and first and second-year medical students plan each fair, inviting vendors and coordinating exhibits, taking the lead in publicizing the effort with help from the Dean's Office, and inviting public officials to attend as well.

"We believe that an annual student-run community health fair helps JABSOM achieve its mission to train competent and compassionate physicians to serve the unique needs of Hawai‘i," said Chadwick Council, first-year medical student and one of the 2013 fair organizers. "The health fair provides broad community exposure to health-related organizations and a chance to make a difference in our society."

"These fairs really are a valuable resource, too," said student planning committee member Meghann Lau, a first-year medical student. "They help us uncover support available to the medical student population and to facilitate networking and outreach opportunities between us and the community and other medical professionals. "They also strengthen the relationship between the medical school and our community to foster patient-oriented care early in our students’ medical careers," she said.

The students view the fair as a place to distribute accurate and current information and new health trends to the public and to provide experts in various health fields to discuss current health topics. Those topics may end up being areas in which students can explore research or outreach opportunities. "We also plan to engage participants with interactive displays and games," added Lau.

The students are planning to attract more than 800 visitors to the campus for the fair, which also will feature: